Draft overture on moving from a policy of divestment to investment in the Middle East

The XXXXX Presbytery respectfully overtures the 217th General Assembly (2006) to do the following:

Pursue faithfully and consistently its historic vision of peace and security for all the peoples in Middle East.

We call upon the 217th General Assembly to move from the divestment strategy of the 216th General Assembly to a strategy of investment in businesses, not-for-profit programs, NGO's, and diplomatic efforts that are likely to promote peace and reconciliation between Israelis and Palestinians.

Rationale: The Presbyterian Church (USA) has given longstanding support to a just and lasting peace in the Middle East and we believe that our church can play a positive role in fostering Middle East peace. However, the action by the 216th General Assembly regarding possible divestment from some companies doing business with Israel caused considerable division and distrust within our church and within the Jewish community.

While divestment can be a useful tool for social change, it is wrong to single out Israel as the object of a "divestment" policy when other states and parties in the region are also guilty of serious human rights violations that can and must be addressed.

This policy distracts the PCUSA from our denomination's historic commitment to a two state solution to the conflict. Since a large majority of Israelis and Palestinians prefer peace with their neighbors, rather than violence and war, and are ready to make hard sacrifices to achieve it, the 217th General Assembly instructs the PCUSA to pursue a peacemaking strategy of proactive engagement and selective investment of time, talent and financial resources in companies, not-for-profits, NGOs and diplomatic efforts that are likely to promote a just and lasting peace in the region.

Believing that Palestinians have a right to freedom, security, and self-governance within their own state and, further, that such a state must be established within safe and secure borders and be economically viable, the 217th General Assembly reaffirms the PCUSA support for a two state solution to the present conflict.

The 217th General Assembly reaffirms the PCUSA's commitment to the vitality and well-being of the state of Israel in awareness that only a strong Israel can be a partner in a lasting peace and we believe in Israel's right to exist as a state and Israel's right to defend itself against terrorism and acts of violence that threaten its security.

We encourage and applaud efforts by individual Presbyterians, congregations and judicatories of our church to engage in dialogue with Jewish communities. We believe that Presbyterian concerns about the Middle East can be more cogently articulated and more effectively advanced by working with our Jewish neighbors and by developing substantive projects at home and in the Middle East that harness the talents and resources of both of our religious communities.

For further information about PCJCR please email Charles Henderson.